Elevating device.



L. J. EVANS.

BLEVATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION rILBn 11u14. 1913.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

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ELEVATING DEVICE.

APPLxcATloN FILED MAY 14,1913.

Patented Dec. 15, 191A 2 SHEETS -SHEET 2.

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LEWIS J. EVANS, 0F KIRKWOOD, NEW YORK.

ELEVATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

Application filed May 14, 1913. Serial N0. 767,676.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Lnwrs J. EVANS, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Kirkwood, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to elevating devices and pertains more particularly to such a. one as is adapted to be used in conjunction with a furnace or heater to facilitate removing and replacing the ash cans which are normally located beneath the floor of the furnace room and directly under the fire box of the heater.

The object of the invention is to provide an elevating` device for ash cans that can be built or fitted into a pit formed under the floor of the cellar and in proximity to the heater, from which the ashes are to be removed.

The invention consists in providing such elevating means carried in a frame, adapted to be countersunk in the furnace room iioor to register with the walls of an ash pit, from which frame is suspended a platform supporting the ash can, and adapted to be raised and lowered in such manner that the can is constantly maintained in an upright position while it is being brought from beneath the discharge chute from the furnace to an elevated position level with the floor.

The invention further contemplates providing a hinged cover secured to the frame of the device, which, ywhen closed, will lie flush with the floor of the furnace room, not only serving to obscure the entire apparatus from view, but to protect it from cinders and dirt.

'With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the arrangement and structure of parts more fully set forth, illus-,

trated and pointed out in the following specification, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

1n the drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the can in its lowermost position; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the can elevated; Fig. 3 is a plan view; Fig. 1 is an enlarged view showing in detail the operating mechanism; Fig. 5 is a view of the chute in detail. i

Referring to the drawings, the pit 1 is shown formed below the level 2 of the furnace floor of a depth suiiiciently greater than the height of the ash can and shaped at its rear end with converging walls extending beneath thc front edge of the furnace 3. The frame 1L is constructed of bars of angle iron, one edge of which is countersunk flush with the concrete floor while the other at right angles thereto extends within the walls of the pit forming an inner lining around its upper edge. Suspended from this frame by three swinging arms 5, 6 and 7 is the platform S adapted to carry the ash can 9 and so supported near the rear end of the frame that the can, in its lowest position, will be retained in the recess formed between the converging end walls of the pit and directly under the ash chute, as will be more fully described. rl`he exact formation of this rear part of the pit (as seen in plan view) is that of half a hexagon, there being three end walls, one parallel with the front wall of the pit and two connecting this wall with the side walls.

The swinging arms 5 and 6 are pivotally suspended from the side bars of the frame l at points diametrically opposite. Their depending ends are connected by a cross piece 12, made integral therewith which supports the platform 8 near its front edge. The platform S is shaped to conform with the rear walls of the pit, having its rear edge parallel to but shorter than its front edge, and having two parallel side edges and two converging edges joining the rear and side edges. The platform is of metal, and is formed with a depending flange Sa. The arms and 6 are connected by a horizontal shaft 12 integral therewith forming a U- shaped frame, upon which the platform rests, notches or holes being formed in the side flanges 8a for this purpose. The third rod 7 at its upper end is formed with an ear bent slightly forward which is pivotally secured by a bolt to a bracket 7a centrally located on the short end bar of the frame et. At its lower end this rod terminates in a yoke 11 having two perforated ear pieces 11- at right angles thereto, and a central downwardly directed lug 11c to which `is bolted a bar l1b extending underneath the platform and beneath the shaft 12. A shaft 13 is passed through the perforations in the ears 11a and through similar holes in the flanges S along the rear converging edges of the platform, thus permitting a swinging action of the rod 7. Across the front edge of the frame 4 a shaft 14 is rotatably mounted, having its bearings in two depending plates 15 bolted at each side to the inner surface of the frame bars. Carried on this shaft and adapted to rotate therewith is a winding drum 16 to whichV is fastened one end of a chain 17. From the winding drum this chain passes down to the front edge of the supporting platform where it is secured by a ring to the front end of the bar 11b hinged at its opposite end to the yoke part 11 of the arm 7. rlwo depending fingers from the bottom of the platform maintain the bar 11b in central position.

The winding drum 16 is placed a little to one side of the center of the shaft 14 so that when the chain 17 is completely wound up it extends in a straight line from a point at approximately the center of the frame to the middle of the lowei` front edge of the platform. Loosely journaled near one end of the shaft y14 is an arm 19 consisting of two parallel bars suitably spaced apart and bolted through intermediate blocks to form a one-piece structure. Between the lower ends of these bars which are loosely journaled to the shaft is a sprocket wheel 20 rigidly joined to the shaft so as to rotate with it. Another sprocket wheel 21 is carried on a small shaft 22 between the two bars, and near their outer' end. A sprocket chain 23 passes around the two wheels 20 and 21, forming a driving connection between the wheel 21 and the shaft 14. A handle 24 provided with a square socket adapted to engage the square end of the shaft 22 serves as suitable means for operating the winding mechanism. The arm 19 can be lowered, when the handle 24 is detached, so as to swing kdownwardly within the pit. In order to maintainit in an upright, operative position,.a small catch 25 is loosely secured therein. The free end of this catch is bent at right angles to form a square hook which fits into a small square hole on the frame work, and prevents any turningmovement of the arm 19. A small ratchet wheel 32 is iiXed on the shaft 14 at its end opposite the winding arm 19 and is i `engaged by a pawl 33 carried on the plate y15. By means 0f this pawl and ratchet the can can be retained in any position lduring its upward or downward movement.

The entire apparatus and pit is completely incased by a cover formed in two parts adapted to lie flush with the iioor of the furnace. Across the rear portion of the pit substantially over the can when in its lowermost position is the cover portion 26 riveted or otherwise permanently secured to the frame 4. Near the rear part of .this cover portion 26 directly in f ront of the lower draft door of the furnace is formed a rectangular opening 27 in conjunction with which a collapsible ash chute discharges the ashes directly into the can beneath. Referring to Fig. 5, along the rear edge of the rectangular opening 27 is hinged a plate 28 adapted to swing inwardly and downwardly at a suitable angle from the horizontal to form the bottom of the ash chute. A small chain fastened to the front edge of this plate terminates and is secured to hook within a hole 29 formed in the cover portion directly in front of the opening 27. This hole is provided with a cap piece, which can be removed when it is desired to open or close the ash chute, or can be used to sweep dir t into the can beneath. The side portions 30 of the chute are secured along the side edges of the opening 27. The lower edges of these side portions incline upwardly and rearwardly at about an angle of 60, being in contact throughout their length with the side edges of the plate 28. 4The other part of the cover is simply a. large rectangular lid covering the remainingarea of the ash pit and provided with hinges and handles by means of which it can be opened and closed at will.

The operation of vthis device which is apparent from the above description is as follows: The can being in its normal position on the platform 3 at the lower rear part of the pit, is filled with ashes which are taken from the furnace and discharged through the chute.l Vhen the can is filled and ready to be removed, the cover 31 is opened, the

arm 19 lifted to an upright position and made fast by thev catch 25, then the winding handle 24 applied to the sprocket shaft 22. As the handle 24 is rotated, it turns through the medium of the sprocket wheels 21 and 20, the shaft 14; and chain thereon thuswinding up thechain 17; consequently the platform 8 is swung forwardly and upwardly until it is on a level with the floor 2, where it is retained by the pawl and ratchet 32 and 33, as seen in F ig. 4. The can can then bereplaced by an empty one, and the latter lowered into the pit. The path of travel of the platform is such that rlue to theswinging movement of the arms 5, 6 and 7 it is always horizontal, and the can therefore is constantly kept in a firm,

upright position.

vHaving thus described my invention'what I claim is 1. In combination with a kwell formed below and in proximity with a heater, a frame Y fitting aroundthe upper perimeter of said well, swinging arms carried aty their upper ends in said frame, a movable platformsuspended thereby, a rotatable shaft mounted i i a well formed bearms suspended from said frame, a movable platform adapted to carry an ash can carried by said swinging arms, a rotatable shaft mounted in the frame, winding mechanism carried on said shaft, and connected to said movable platform, means for rotating said shaft and means for holding said shaft against rotation, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a well formed be low and in proximity with a heater or furnace, a frame surrounding the upper walls of said well, a swinging platform adapted to carry an ash can, arms pivoted at their upper ends in said frame carrying said platform, means carried in said frame for raising and lowering the platform from its normal position near the bottom of the well to an elevated position level with the upper surface of the well, and a cover secured to said frame and flush with it, having a hinged portion adapted to be opened when the elevating device is to be operated, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a well formed below and in proximity with a heater, a frame surrounding the top of said well, a movable platform adapted to carry an ash can, swinging arms suspended from one end of said frame carrying said platform, a rotatable shaft mounted across the other end of said frame, winding mechanism carried on said shaft and rotatable therewith, having connection with said platform, a swinging arm loosely journaled on said shaft and adapted to be maintained in an upright position, means carried on said swinging arm having driving connection with said shaft and detachable means for driving same, substantially as described.

5. An apparatus for elevating ash receptacles, comprising a pit, a platform, means for suspending said platform in said pit below the ash box of a furnace, said means comprising depending connections at the front and rear portion of the platform, having connection therewith at their lower ends whereby the platform will be held in horizontal position as it is swung forwardly and upwardly to elevate the ash receptacle carried thereby to a position level with the surface of the pit, and means for giving the platform its movement to withdraw it from or restore it to its position below the furnace ash box, substantially as described.

G. In combination, a frame, a platform below said frame, connections depending from the frame at front and rear of the platform to support the same in horizontal position and to swing to permit said platform to be raised to the level of said frame or lowered beneath same, and means for moving the platform, the horizontal position of the platform being constantly maintained, substantially as described.

7. In combination a pit, a frame surrounding the upper perimeter of said pit, a platform, means for suspending said platform from said frame, such means adapted to swing so as to raise said platform to the level of said frame or lower it beneath same, and so arranged as to maintain the platform constantly in a horizontal position, said suspending means being so connected with the frame as to assume a position entirely below the level of the platform when the latter is raised, and means for moving the platform, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS J. EVANS.

Vitnesses ELsiE GORDON, OWEN F. OMALLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

